The European Parliament adopted by 474 votes to 112 with 755 abstentions a resolution on the findings and recommendations of the Special Committee on Terrorism.

Noting that the threats posed by terrorism require a holistic approach linking internal and external security and ensuring national and European coordination, Parliament considered that the EU and the Member States have made progress in countering these threats, but that this progress has unfortunately been made under pressure of events rather than through pro-active measures. The resolution contains a series of measures that the EU should take to improve its response to the terrorist threat, bearing in mind that the response should always be in full compliance with the principles recognised by Article 2 Treaty on the European Union and should observe fundamental rights and freedoms. The measures seek to promote more cooperation, better information exchange, intensification of the fight against radicalisation and extended rights for the victims.

The main recommendations are as follows:

Institutional framework : Parliament stressed the importance of deepening cooperation and information exchange between Member States. It called on the next President of the Commission to maintain a self-standing portfolio for the Commissioner responsible for the Security Union and on the Council to extend the powers of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to include the fight against organised crime and terrorism. It also called for clarification of the status and role of the Counter‑Terrorism Coordinator, as a bridge between the competent EU institutions and Member States’ agencies.

Terrorist threat

Parliament called on Member States and the appropriate EU agencies to monitor all foreign terrorist fighters and to set up appropriate structures to meet the needs of repatriated children .

The Commission was called upon to review and update the CBRN Action Plan (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances) and Member States to take appropriate ‘civil defence’ measures to prepare for CBRN attacks.

Preventing and combating radicalisation leading to violent extremism

Parliament called for the establishment of a European Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Radicalisation which would be integrated into the Commission and endowed with sufficient financial and human resources. Member States were invited to:

- adopt comprehensive national and regional strategies to prevent and combat radicalisation, which should be provided with adequate financial resources;

- tolerate only religious practices that are in full accordance with democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the laws in force in the Member States;

carry out prior screening of chaplains and consistently blacklist on a case-by-case basis any hate preachers; the Commission was asked to introduce an EU watch list so as to better exchange information on extremist chaplains within the scope permissible in accordance with the law;

- increase the offer of higher education opportunities for chaplains in the EU, with transparent scrutiny and only accrediting theological curricula that fully respect the democratic laicism of European countries, and revoking teaching licences in cases of misdemeanour;

- take action against satellite TV channels disseminating violence, hate speech and incitement to terrorism; the Commission is asked to prepare an analysis of possible legislative changes in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive in order to improve the effectiveness of blocking such channels broadcasting from third countries;

- close places of worship and ban associations that incite terrorist offences, hatred, discrimination or violence;

- establish specific procedures and indicators to identify and manage radicalised prisoners in prisons in order to prevent the radicalisation of other prisoners.

The Commission is invited to create an online European platform that citizens can use in order to flag online terrorist content.

Cooperation and exchange of information : Member States were called on to develop a future approach to ‘ information sharing by default’ , when it comes to sharing CT-related information with other Member States and relevant EU agencies.

Parliament called for (i) full implementation and systematic checks of relevant databases and information systems, (ii) working towards interoperability and (iii) setting up national ‘fusion centres’ or coordination units to combat terrorism, as well as coordinated databases, to facilitate the search and exchange of terrorist intelligence held by all relevant national authorities; (iv) cooperation among all relevant stakeholders with a view to increasing the decryption abilities of the competent authorities; (v) the introduction a biometric matching service enabling querying with biometric data across several EU information systems so as to contribute to the fight against identity fraud and to prevent people from using multiple identities.

Parliament called on the Commission to examine the possibility of a legislative proposal that obliges communication platforms present on the EU market to cooperate when it comes to encrypted communications if there is a judicial decision to that effect.

External borders : Member States are invited to invest in high quality information and communication technology (ICT) equipment at all border crossings and the Commission was asked set a benchmark for the technical standards for such ICT equipment, after consultation with eu-LISA.

Parliament called on the co-legislators to consider providing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCGA) with a specific mandate for processing operational personal data suited to its operational role, including in the prevention and detection of cross-border crime and terrorism at the EU’s external borders.

The Commission was asked to prepare an evaluation of a possible legislative proposal making it compulsory for air carriers and port, international bus or high-speed train operators to conduct conformity checks when passengers board, in order to make sure that the identity stated on the ticket matches the ID card or passport in the passenger’s possession.

Terrorist financing : Parliament called on the Commission to develop the monitoring of financial flows, as well as ways of identifying users of electronic wallets, virtual currencies and prepaid cards, crowdfunding platforms and online and mobile payment systems in police or judicial investigations.

Victims of terrorism : the Commission was invited to establish an EU Coordination Centre for victims of terrorism , which would provide timely and adequate crisis support in cases of attacks in one or more Member States. Parliament also called on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal on the victims of terrorism that responds effectively to victims’ needs in the short and long term, including a common definition of the status of victim of terrorism and of victims’ rights, and a standardised form for claiming compensation, outlining clear duties and deadlines for insurers.

Lastly, Parliament asked for enhanced promotion of the European Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism (11 March).

The Special Commission on Terrorism adopted the report of Monika HOHLMEIER (EPP, DE) and Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE) on the findings and recommendations of the Special Commission on Terrorism.

The terrorist threat has grown and rapidly evolved in recent years. Members believe that the cross-border nature of terrorism requires a strong and coordinated response and cooperation within and between Member States, as well as with and between the relevant EU agencies and bodies, and with the third countries concerned. The response to the terrorist threat should always be in full compliance with the principles recognised by Article 2 Treaty on the European Union and should observe fundamental rights and freedoms.

The main recommendations are as follows:

Institutional framework : Members believe that European action is essential and that deepening cooperation and information exchange between Member States and with the Union is essential to provide an effective response to terrorist threats. They invited Member States and the European institutions to work towards a common strategic culture in this area. They underlined the importance of the exchange of good practice between Member States within the European Union, but also with third countries.

Members called on the next President of the Commission to maintain a self-standing portfolio for the Commissioner responsible for the Security Union and on the Council to extend the powers of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to include the fight against organised crime and terrorism.

Terrorist threat : Members called on the Commission to work with the Member States towards more transparency and a common understanding of threat levels. They called on the Member States to swiftly transmit information on the change of the threat level and the rationale behind it.

The report called on Member States and the appropriate EU agencies to monitor all foreign terrorist fighters and to ensure harmonised security and judicial follow-up of identified and to set up appropriate structures to meet the needs of repatriated children .

The Commission is called upon to review and update the CBRN Action Plan (chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances) and Member States to take appropriate ‘civil defence’ measures to prepare for CBRN attacks.

Preventing and combating radicalisation leading to violent extremism : Members called for the establishment of a European Centre of Excellence for the Prevention of Radicalisation' which would be integrated into the Commission and endowed with sufficient financial and human resources. Member States are invited to:

adopt comprehensive national and regional strategies to prevent and combat radicalisation, which should be provided with adequate financial resources; tolerate only religious practices that are in full accordance with democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the laws in force in the Member States; carry out prior screening of chaplains and systematically place blacklisted hate preachers on a case-by-case basis; implement the Directive on combating terrorism and the Framework Decision on racism and xenophobia, according to which incitement to commit a terrorist act or hate crime is a criminal offence; close places of worship and ban associations that incite terrorist offences, hatred, discrimination or violence; take swift legal action to ban and remove, as far as possible, within their territories, all printed and online propaganda that explicitly incites violent extremism and terrorist acts; establish specific procedures and indicators to identify and manage radicalised prisoners in prisons in order to prevent the radicalisation of other prisoners; Members considered it essential to set up detention rules that are differentiated according to the level of danger presented by the prisoners.

The Commission is invited to create an online European platform that citizens can use in order to flag online terrorist content.

Cooperation and exchange of information : Member States were called on to develop the necessary technical standardisation, improvements in data quality and the legal framework for a future approach to ‘ information sharing by default’ , when it comes to sharing CT-related information with other Member States and relevant EU agencies and bodies on the basis of the applicable underlying legal regulations governing each information system, thus exchanging such information as a rule, and refraining from such exchange only in specific cases where circumstances require that it be withheld namely when the sharing of information would jeopardise current investigations or the safety of an individual or would be contrary to the essential interests of the security of the Member State concerned.

Members called for (i) full implementation and systematic checks of relevant databases and information systems, (ii) working towards interoperability and (iii) setting up national ‘fusion centres’ or coordination units to combat terrorism, as well as coordinated databases, to facilitate the search and exchange of terrorist intelligence held by all relevant national authorities.

External borders : Member States are invited to invest in high quality information and communication technology (ICT) equipment at all border crossings in order to allow appropriate controls using all relevant databases. The Commission shall set a benchmark for the technical standards for such ICT equipment, after consultation with eu-LISA.

The co-legislators shall consider giving Frontex a specific mandate for the processing of personal operational data appropriate to its operational role, including in the prevention and detection of cross-border crime and terrorism at the Union's external borders.

Terrorist financing : the report called on Member States to fully implement all anti-money laundering directives and European instruments relating to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. It called on the Commission to develop, together with Member States and international partners, the monitoring of financial flows in a targeted manner, as well as ways of identifying users of electronic wallets, virtual currencies and prepaid cards, crowdfunding platforms and online and mobile payment systems in police or judicial investigations.

Victims of terrorism : the Commission is invited to establish an EU Coordination Centre for victims of terrorism (CCVT), which would provide timely and adequate crisis support in cases of attacks in one or more Member States. It is also invited to submit a legislative proposal on the victims of terrorism that responds effectively to victims’ needs in the short and long term, including a common definition of the status of victim of terrorism and of victims’ rights, and a standardised form for claiming compensation.

Member States shall ensure that a comprehensive response to the specific needs of victims of terrorism immediately after a terrorist attack and for as long as necessary is provided within the national emergency response infrastructure.